The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-27

It was in the month of September, and Val
paraiso was filed with gay, romping crowds for
the festivities had just begun by which the re-
public yearly celebrates the anniversary Of the
overthrow of the Spanish rule. Tho splendid
weather favored open-air pleasures. and every
body in Sunday dress thronged the heights to
the north of the city, where the light house
stands, and from which one has magnificent
view ont over the sea. The sound of military
music hoated mp from the streets below, where
the soidiery were parading. All along the leyee
cliff-tops were scattered booths and tents
decorated with flags and ribbons where all sorts
Of Observation-Disclosures guardiente, lemonade,
etc.-were on sale. The people Of Chill. like
most of the South American people, are very
fond of games of chance, so that milling
booths were numerous Some of these games
were conducted in. the open air, and wherever
shere was large crowd of Guassos, or native
,ountrymen, you could be sure gambling was
going on
Close by the edge Of the cliff was collected
such crowd, all intent the course of the
game being played in the center. They were so
near the edge that one could hear the dash Of
;he waves at the base of the rock below.
just as high stake had been laid, rider who
had been on the outskirts of the circle, dark
fellow with heavy black beard and long soar
his right cheek, extending down into his
beard rndely urged his horse into the crowd
Tho horse knocked over pale young fellow,
who threw up his arms as he was showed for
ward and struck the horse across the nose so
hard that he reared up and caused great con-
fusion. The bystanders were pushed over on to
the poncho on which the game was being
played. The cards and money were scattered
about. pale young man clad in the habit of
.he lower classes seemed much excited; he
seized the bride of the horse, as soon as he
scrambled to his feet, and fercely jerked it,
crowding the beast backward. The rider spurred
the horse on for moment. but to no purpose,
and then struck the young man cruel blow
across the head with his revenes, whip made
Of single piece of thick leather. He staggered
back at the blow, and dropped on one knee,
holding his head between his hands. Another
young peasant sprang to the side of the pale
young fellow, who had been struck. Putting
his arm about him tenderly he said:
Have they hurt you, Pablo? Did they strike
yonl But what did you do to the horse9'
It was that villainous Argentine, the devil,
complained Pablo, .'the one who stabbed Ricar-
do last fall, and Ricardo was always good to me.
When | him his horse mad feeling
took hold OF me. Oh, my head! how it burns,
how it burns'
Poor Pablo!"
'Say, Juan." suddenly voice at his side 1--WE
looked for you, amigo, everywhere. Who have
you thsrel Come aside here moment I've
something to say to YOU"
Juan, who stood by pablo's side, quickly raised
his head and saw beside him the very rider who
had abused his brother.
why did you strike my brother, Don Man
ue4 You knew well enough that he is weak
minded and not responsible for what he does"
"Caramha, JUAN" said the rider. irrtably. 81
didn't know il was your brother. He ierked like
mad ct my horses bride. Come here Pablo
give me your hand and let's be good friends
again. 1t was mistake"
Pablo n look of hatred and contem pt az
the speaker and only drew further away.
''Go!' he said in voice half choked with rage.
''you the devil of which the padres tell us
You live in he'll and have only crawled out here
In Chill Away with you. | see the fire in your
syes and the blood in your hands, the blood of
Ricardo, my friend
What sort of wild talk is he giving us9, said
Manuel. with an unfriendly look at the boy;
''but yon can't get away with him, for he didn't
know what he talking about"
Don't know! muttered the boy to himself
as, still quivering with suppressed anger he
looked at Nanrsl The Argentine no longer
paid any attention to him, but, turning to his
brother, said, in " lpw voice:
Come with me. Juan. | have proposition to
make to you--or perhaps you playing row
and having good luck; then can arrange it
later"
Il, paying!" said Juan, almost fiercelv. ~
need all that earn for myself and poor Pablo
have nothing to play with"
And II ] would give you the chance to earn
ten peaos in one hour"
Wi li,t1a
the crowd" whispered Manuel Here there are
too many ears. Only tell me whether you have
any desire 10 earn some money. Oh, there is
nothing crooked about it, so YOU need not look
at ne so mistrustingly.o
Looking about warily, he turned his horse
ard rode slowly off TO a spot some distance from
the crowd OF pleasure seekers There he stopped
and turned 10 see whether Juan was following
aim. lie saw the young coming, and close
at his heels his halfwitted brother, who ap-
peared to be trying to persuade him not to 60
further. Don Manuel murmured curse be-
tween his teeth and scowled darkly But he
noted that Juan shook his head and paid no at
tention to Pablos words. Soon thew came M to
him. and Pablo still held fast to his brothers
poneho.
Now, what DO you want of me. Don Man
nel? said the young man. rs it secretqr
Eyes" said the rider. "Stil there is NOTHING
bad about it. Only you can, with little trouble
earn as much money as you could wish to use
drrng the festival"
'sWeil. what is itl'
Don Manned threw suspicious glance at the
halfwitted fellow, who still chung close to his
brother.
Cant we talk together moment alone.p he
asked.
1--WE are alone" said Juan asgurincIv. "You
know that my brother has hardly sense enough
to comprehend the most simple thing which il
is said to him.
Sometimes he speaks very nationally" re-
turned Don Manuel.
But the next moment he has forgotten every.
thing that was said. If you have anything ia
toll me, speak out. for you won't be able to ce,
Pablo to 60 away. That blow you gave him
must have hurt the poor fellow"
Manuel bit his lips, but did not answer. He
swung himself from the saddle, and walked
slowly along at Juans side, holding his horse by
the bride.
You know, Juan. that hump backed Pedro